Posted by Administrator at 18 February 2010
The most recent arrests of former San Bernardino County Assessor William “Bill” Postmus and former Chief of Staff to Supervisor Neil Derry, James Erwin, highlights yet again the disparity in treatment by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos when compared with other jurisdictions. Ramos clearly is attempting to “punish” those who are political adversaries upfront as he knows the cases against them are weak and convictions are unlikely.
Take a look at the difference between the Postmus/Erwin case and the case of the four San Jacinto City Councilmen who were recently indicted in Riverside County. The disparity is glaring.
But there is one more factor to consider and that is of the judges who approve the high bails where clearly there is no justification to do so. Mike Ramos has supported the judges in their attempt to keep the $20,000 benefits package paid to them by the county that Supervisor Neil Derry has tried to end. Is Ramos receiving fruits from his other political maneuvering?
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos:
William Postmus: Charged with 16 felonies, 1 misdemeanor, bail set at $350,000, arrested and booked twice
James Erwin: Charged with 19 felonies, bail set at $600,000, arrested and booked twice
Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco:
James William Ayres: Indicted on 148 counts, 51 felonies, 97 misdemeanors, bail set at $25,000, allowed to surrender to post bond without arrest
John Richard Mansperger: Indicted on 136 counts, 40 felonies, 96 misdemeanors, bail set at $25,000, allowed to surrender to post bond without arrest
Jimmie Dale Stubblefield, Jr.: Indicted on 135 counts, 39 felonies, 96 misdemeanors, bail set at $25,000, allowed to surrender to post bond without arrest
James Walter Potts: Indicted on 89 counts, 25 felonies, 64 misdemeanors, bail set at $25,000, allowed to surrender to post bond without arrest
To read entire story, click here.
How can anyone justify this glaringly obvious disparity??? State Bar complaint time.
Well, do you think it might be to keep the many San Bernardino County Jails full?
No, I will not call them detention centers, as I am not politically correct in my grammar.
Maybe we can ask the Board of Supervisors to commission a study of existing bail structures in other counties. I would gladly take on the task, for say $79K, and report back my findings and recommendations.
This is plain injustice! Good observation!
Unfortunately the State Bar of California can’t do anything. As soon as they discipline a prosecutor, other prosecutors with powerful friends in Sacramento will take away or threaten to take away the funding and power of the bar.
see:
http://overlawyered.com/2008/11/prosecutors-union-pushes-measure-hobbling-california-lawyer-discipline/
Guess who is on the board of the California District Attorneys’ Association?
None other than Mike Ramos and another SB DA.
Erwin, you should be upset the Supreme Court denied your Petition for Review. Where is the story?
Look at this article re the State Bar and prosecutors:
http://overlawyered.com/2008/11/prosecutors-union-pushes-measure-hobbling-california-lawyer-discipline/
This is absolutely ridiculous… When the hell is someone from a level that these creeps can’t touch going to investigate and DO something about it? Anyone with eyes (who can read) can see that this is, without a doubt, a witchhunt. Is the federal government aware of what’s going on? And if not, why not?!?! Surely there has to be something someone can do to put an end to Ramos’ throne of BS. At the very least, why aren’t the lawyers speaking up to the feds? Or to the papers? That would be my first stop anyway… get this info off of a blog and onto a front page- get it onto national news for pete’s sake. Everyone knows that crooked politicians HATE bad publicity. And since we all know where Mikey stands, I’m sure this would be a great blow to his career.
And on another note, shouldn’t something be done to help Erwin and Postmus? Enough is enough, these guys are losing everything- their reputations, their careers, and I wouldn’t blame them if their sanity went along with it. And the creep behind it all is seeking re-election? What kind of justice is that?
The story is posted.
Not upset though. It was surprising the initial justice reviewing petition requested responses.
It did cost time and money.
logic….postums has been running with these dogs and has headed the pack as well…jim at the very least has fleas…the corruption of the ‘reservior dogs’ er I mean the floodbasin issues…are seperate from the corruption of Mr.pointy pants(ramos),Ruth Stringer,factions of the SBCSD…Mr.hansbargers polictal machine…Mr burnums political machine…the lewis influence/money/canidates…a perfect storm of political corruption on a local level like no other…and all these good ‘representives of the people’ are up to their asses in it…let us hope that the law in some form will come and prevail
To report public corruption, contact the San Diego Office of the FBI’s Public Corruption Unit. 877-662-7423. You can leave an anonymous tip about an elected official, including cases of corruption that have already been documented in the media. Just because the case is out in the press does not mean the FBI’s Public Corruption Unit is aware of it. You must inform them. This is the only entity elected officials such as Mike Ramos answer to. You can also leave an anonymous tip via the FBI’s web site at http://www.fbi.gov